Planning permission has been granted by Manchester City Council for the construction of a skyscraper that will be the tallest building in the city when complete.

To be built on Owen Street, the 64 storey construction will house 496 apartments and will dwarf the nearby 48 storey Beetham Tower.

The new building will be built on land near Deansgate train station that was formerly used as a car park, and will be built alongside three slightly smaller structures.

The tallest building will be just over 200 metres tall, while the other three are 37, 44 and 50 storeys tall, reaching 122, 140 and 158 metres respectively.

Tower D is 44 floors and 140.4 metres tall, Tower C is 37 storeys and 122 metres tall and Tower B is 50 floors and 157.9 metres tall.

CQ Investments, part of the Renaker Build group of firms, is the developer behind the project.

SimpsonHaugh & Partners designed the scheme which also includes a cinema and basement car parking. The main four towers will range between 37 and 64 storeys, including a total of 1,508 apartments, with a further three story building which will house retail units, a swimming pool and a tennis court.

Renaker Build’s Head of Sales, Andy Finch, commented that the company is delighted to have received permission for this latest landmark development which will be the first in the framework on Great Jackson Street and will create a new community at the southern gateway to the centre of Manchester city centre.

The building services engineering was provided by WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff, whose Director, Ian Standring, believes that the approval of the plans for the Owen Street towers marks a real sign of confidence in the property market in Manchester, adding that the firm is excited to be working on the design team that will shape an iconic scheme for the city.